Quinn not concerned about Jones

FLOWERY BRANCH — defending NFC had they camp attemptlosing returnThe three reported Wednesday.Super Falcons,to to the becomemajor Bowl grandfor championswho issues trainingteamthe gameThe will first as to sincewith Julio All-ProJones 1994, and enteredwide first-round receivercamp pick Takkarist McKinley set to Negotiationsbe limited in for practice.a contract extensionning back Devontafor Pro Bowl Freeman run- hang over the team. Also, the team is not con- cerned that Jones, who is recovering from foot surgery, was on a Jet Ski on Lake Lanier before the start of camp. The standard NFL contract calls for players not to participate in “any activity other than football which may involve significant risk of personal injury.” The Falcons, through a team spokes- man said they “were not concerned” about Jones’ Jet Skiing.

Jones’ activity became kno w n after he lo st a $100,000 earring while riding and hired a diving team to recover it. One of the divers tipped off WXIA and a station crew was present when Jones pulled up on his Jet Ski on Tuesday.

“As long as I’m good, it’s materialistic stuff,” Jones told the station. “You can always get that kind of stuff back.”

In addition to Jones and McKinley, wide receiver Taylor Gabriel also will be lim- ited in practice.

“We don’t have any players on (physically unable to per- form) list,” coach Dan Quinn said. “We have three players that will be somewhat limited in their return to camp: Julio Jones, Takk McKinley and Taylor Gabriel. All of those guys will follow our normal program of individual, group install, the night practice and then we’ll kind of work them into half the reps and then the full stuff.”

The Falcons will be cautious with Jones, who had a bunion removed from his foot in March and did not participate in the offseason program.

McKinley, who was selected with the 26th pick in the draft, had shoulder surgery in March. He has said his recovery period would last four to six months.

The Falcons are hopeful that he’ll be ready to play by the third exhibition game.

“The good news is that he had all of these (opportuni- ties) to really go put forth his best in the rehab,” Quinn said. “That part came across great for him and the training staff. Getting himself together to get right.”

General manager Thomas Dimitroff has been optimistic about working out a con- tract extension for Freeman, but didn’t have an update Wednesday.